Thermoelectric radiator



Jan. 2, 1934. R. N EGGLESTON 1,941,855

THERMOELECTRIC RADIATOR Filed OCC. 24, 1931 2 ShefS-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan.- 2, 1934. R. N. EGGLESTON THERMOELECTRIC RADIATOR Filed Ocz'. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Muff/U 910 fvg/gfM/Yw) ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERMOELECTRIC RADIATOR Application October 24,

8 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to electric heaters and more particularly to an improved construction of electrically operated heat radiator.

One of the objects of my invention is to prol vide a construction of electrically operated heat radiator of improved form in which a substantial increase in heat efficiency for a given current consumption is obtained than has heretofore been possible in the art.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of electrically operated heat radiator in which the composite effect of hot fluid, steam and hot air may be employed for effecting the radiation of heat at high eiiiciency.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of fluid heater having means for entraining a predetermined quantity of air with a quantity of fluid during the condensing period of steam in a fluid circulating system for ze securing the composite heating effect of steam,

hot water and hot air in a fluid circulating system for eiecting a high degree of heat radiation. A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of fluid heater in which a cyclic operation is obtained in the heating of fluid to a boiling temperature, condensing the steam boiled from the fluid, entraining quantities of air with the condensate and circulating the condensate and entrained air through a radiation system and effecting a heating operation both by means of the heated condensate and the heated air.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a constructionl of heat radiator. fluid circulating system and breather valve associated therewith as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the electric heater of my invention with parts broken away and illustrated in cross-section to show the interior of the fluid circulating system; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view through the terminal structure of the electric heating elements; Fig. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken through the electric heating elements on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the breather valve and the upper portion of thelluid system with which the breather valve is associated; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the fluid circulating system for explaining the theory of operation of the system of my invention; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 through the radiator associated with the fluid circulating system.

I have found that improved eillciency may be 1931. Serial No. 570,955

(Cl. 21S-38) obtained in heat radiation systems by providing a fluid circulating path with electric heating means for elevating the temperature of the fluid and causing a cyclic circulation thereof with means for entraining in the fluid a quantity of air. The composite mixture of air and water provides a heat absorbent which is circulated through the iluid path and releases heat to the radiation system by convection and conduction heat currents. The fluid which is employed in the circulating system is elevated to boiling temperature and then condensed in the fluid circulating path concurrently with the entraining of air with the fluid. The composite mixture of fluid and of the air is then circulated through the heat radiation system releasing the heat contained therein and the mixture of air and fluid returned to the heater section of the system preparatory for a repeat cycle. A breather valve is provided in the fluid circulating path adjacent the point of highest temperature for the fluid for continuously releasing air discharged from the boiling fluid and continuously entraining air with the condensate formed from the steam generated from the heat generating section of the fluid circulating path.

The construction of the iluid heater of my invention will be more fully understood by detailed reference to the drawings, in which I have shown a radiation system formed from two independent columns of pressed sheet metal indicated at 1 and 2 superimposed one above the other as shown. The columns of pressed sheet metal each have cross-sectional forms for the circulation of air therethrough in the nature of chimneys. The columns are so arranged one above the other that the chimneys form aligned air passages which are broken at 3 to permit an induced draft of air to enter the separate portions of the upper column 1 independent of the air which is continuously supplied through the several portions of the lower columns 2 thereby increasing the quantity of air which is heated. A fluid circulating path is provided by means of a serpentine pipe system designated at 4. The serpentine pipe system 4 comprises an upper horizontal section 4a, an adjacent horizontal section 4b, a further horizontal section 4c, and a lower horizontal section 4d connected at their ends by bends forming a continuous fluid circulating path through the upper and lower sheet metal columns 1 and 2. Coupling means are provided at 5 and 6 at opposite ends of the serpentine pipe system 4. The form of coupling means is shown more clearly in Fig. 4 wherein the extremity of the horizontally extending pipe section 4a is frusta-conical shaped as .indicated at 7 to conform with the truste-conical shaped end of the ferrule 8. The ferrule 8 has screw threads 8a formed exteriorly thereof and screw threads 8b formed interiorly therein. A nut 9 having a frusto conical shaped portion l0 thereon is'adapted to engage the screw threads on ferrule 8 and frictionally grip the truste conical end 7 of the tubular section 4a thereby establishing a fluid tight joint against the frusto conical face 11 of the ferrule 8. Similar joints are provided for both ends of the duid circulating tube 4 for connection to the fluid circulating tube 4 of the heat generator 12. The heat generator l2 comprises a vertically disposed riser which is screw threaded at its lower end as represented at 12a to receive a screw threaded ferrule indicated at 14. which is screw threaded to the riser 12 against gasket 15 for insuring a fluid tight connection therewith.

The ferrule 14 includes a central recess 16 therein, the head of the ferrule being apertured at 17 and 18 for the passage of sleeves 19. which sleeves form a housing for the heater element 20. The sleeve 19 is formed of metallic tubing and is supported in the recess 16 in ferrule 14 by soft metal 21, such as babbitt, which is poured around the sleeves 19 as shown. The sleeve 19 is U- shaped as shown in Fig. 1 and supports at each end thereof a-terminal 22 and 23 embedded in insulation 24 and 25 inserted in each end of the sleeve. The terminals 22 and 23 have terminal screws 26 and 27 thereon engaged by nuts 26a and 27a to which the conductors 28 are secured. Conductors 28 lead to the energizing circuit for the heater unit. The conductive sleeve 19 has an insulated lining 29 through which the heater coil 20 is threaded. 'Ihe ends of the heater coil 20 connect to terminals 26 and 27 carried in the ends of the conductive sleeve. The heater element is readily renewable by withdrawing the screw-threaded ferrule 14 from the end of the riser 12 and substituting a new heater element therein. 'Ihe ends of the terminals are protected by means of a screw threaded cap 30 engaged Yover the screw threaded extension 31 on the ferrule 14.

As illustrated in Fig. 5 the circuit from conductors 28 is energized from the source 32 under control of the thermostat regulator 33. The riser 12 has a lower horizontally extending extension 34 andan upper horizontally extending extension 35, each of which are screw-threaded and provide means for coupling to the serpentine pipe system 4 as heretofore described in connection with the structure shown in Fig. 4. The upper portion of the horizontally extending extension 35 of riser 12 is apertured at 36 and screw-threaded to receive the breather valve designated at 37. The breather valve 37 has a vertically extending recess 38 therein connected to a passage 39 extending normal thereto which is permanently open to the atmosphere. The internal tube 40 extends through the breather valve 37 and passes through the bore 38 and terminates in a curved end portion shown at 41 which is adjacent the lower interior surface of the horizontal extension 35 on riser 12. It is important to terminate the curved tube 40 at a point which is fully submerged below the circulating fluid as this arrangement permits entraining of quantities of air with the condensate which is circulated through the fluid system.

Fig. 5 illustrates more fully the theory of operation of the fluid heating system of my invention. The valve 37 as heretofore explained, has conannees centrically disposed air passages 38 and 40, 'both of which are permanently open to the atmosphere. The fluid is elevated in temperature by means of the heater 20 and may be raised to boiling tem- Derature if desired. The boiling takes place adjacent the top of the vertical riser l2 and in the agitationof the liquid, entrained air therein is discharged through the passages 38 and 39 in the breather valve 37. After the fluid is raised to boiling temperature, the steam which is generated is quickly condensed by the absorption of heat by the radiation system and the condensate circulated through the serpentine pipe system 4. The serpentine pipe system 4 is never completely filled with fluid and some air remains in the fluid circulating pipe system in the space which I have designated at 42. The discharge air passes from the top of the boiling mixture through the space 42, the recess 38 and the discharge port 39. 'Ihe downwardly extending tube 40 projects to the lower limit of the upper section 4a of the fluid circulating tube system so that the curved end of the tube 41 is wholly submerged in the circulating fluid. This enables a quantity of air to be continuously supplied to the fluid beneath the surface thereof so that the condensate which circulates through the iluid circulating system is aerated with 4a quantity of air. The composite mixture of air and water circulates through the serpentine pipe 4 enabling heat to be absorbed therefrom and radiated to the atmosphere.

The manner of heat radiation by convection currents is shown more clearly in Fig. 6 where the radiator sections 1 and 2 are broken away at 3 to provide a chimney-like eifect for the circu- 110 lation of convection currents through the radiator sections at both the base and the intermediate portions thereof. A

In order that maximum efficiency may be obtained from the iiuid heating system I may 115 introduce through the liquid receiver indicated at 43 a chemical mixture serving to raise the boiling point of the iiuid. There are a number of chemical mixtures offered for raising the boiling point of uid and I propose to provide 120 that kind of a valve structure which will readily permit this type of chemical mixture to be added to the fluid which is circulated through the fluid circulating system. In hospital installation I may employ a medicated mixture which is introduced through the liquid receiving head 43 for increasing sanitation and. healthiulness in the use of the heater of my invention.

The electric heater of my invention is particularly desirable as a portable heater. The fact 130 that fluid is employed in the heater insures extended heat intervals for relatively small current consumption. The heater is filled initially by removing the breater valve and filling the pipe system with the required amount of fluid, 145 leaving a substantial amount of air in the heater and thereafter closing the heater by restoring the breather valve. After filling, the heater is maintained in an erect position and discharge of the fluid contents of the heater avoided.

I have found the heater construction of my invention highly practical and successful in its operation and while I have described my inventionin certain of its preferred embodiments I desire that it be understood that modifications 145 may be made and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 150

I. An electric heater comprising a iiuid circulating pipe syste radiation members carried by said iluid circulating pipe system, a heat generator connected to the inlet and discharge connections of said iluid circulating Dine system, and an air injector extending from a point outside of the iluid circulating pipe system to a point submerged in the duid in said fluid circulating pipe system for entraining air in the circulating uid in said iluid circulating pipe system during the circulation of the iiuid.

2. An electric heater comprising a fluid circulating pipe system, radiation members carried by said duid circulating pipe system, a heat generator connected to the inlet and discharge connection oi said fluid circulating pipe system, a valve having a pair of concentrically disposed inlet and discharge ports located above said heat generator and adjacent the inlet connection to said fluid circulating pipe system, the outer discharge port operating to release air above said heat generator and the inner port providing a path for injecting air into the fluid in the iiuid circulating system. Y

3. An electric heater comprising a iiuid circulating pipe system, radiation members carried by said iluid circulating pipe system, a heat generator connected tothe inlet and discharge connection of said iluid circulating pipe system, a valve mounted adjacent the top of said heat generator and adjacent the inlet end of said uid circulating pipe system, said valve having a discharge portion and an inner central tube constituting an air injector portion, said tube having an injector end submerged in the fluid in the circulating system and extending in a direction away from said heat generator for continuously entraining air in the circulating uid during the circulation thereof through said fluid circulating pipe system.

4. An electric heater comprising a serpentine iiuid circulating pipe, radiator sections supported by said serpentine pipe, said radiator sections each being constituted by a plurality of chimneylike sections arranged one above another i'or the circulation of convection air currents therethrough, and intermediate said sections, a vertically disposed riser adjacent one end of said serpentine pipe, an electric heater within said riser, a connection between the top of said riser and the inlet end of said serpentine pipe, a connection between a point at the base of said riser and the discharge end of said serpentine pipe, and an air injector adjacent the top of said riser and adjacent the point of connection of the inlet ot said serpentine pipe at the top -of said riser for aerating the fluid in said serpentine pipe during the process of circulation of the fluid through the serpentine pipe.

5. In an electric heater, a iiuid circulating pipe system, radiators carried by the iluid circulating pipe system, a vertically disposed riser adjacent the ends of said iiuid circulating pipe system, an insert projectible into the base of said riser, an electric heating element supported by said insert and terminating at connecting posts exterior oi.' said insert, a cover member for protecting said terminal posts and the conductors extending therefrom, a connection at the base of said riser with the discharge end of said iluid circulating pipe, a connection between the top ot said riser and the inlet end of said duid circulating pipe, and means in said riser for aerating the fluid in said fluid circulating syste 6. An electric heater comprising a duid circulating pipe system, radiation members carried by said iluid circulating pipe system, a heat generator connected to the inlet and discharge connections of said iluid circulating pipe system and an injector carried by said heat generator, said injector including a liquid receiving head, and a depending tube having its end extending from said liquid receiving head to a point submerged beneath the iiuid in said fluid circulating pipe system.

7'. An electric heater comprising a iluid circulating pipe system, radiation members carried by said fluid circulating pipe system, a heat generator connected to the inlet and discharge con nections of said fluid circulating pipe system and an injector carried by said heat generator, said injector including a liquid receiving head. a depending tube having its end extending from said liquid receiving head to a point submerged beneath the uid in said fluid circulating pipe system, and an air discharge port extending from 135 said uid circulating pipe system concentricaily around said tube and discharging to the atmosphere.

8. A heating unit comprising a circulatory system for liquid, a vertical column or chamber connected at its upper and lower ends with the circulatory system, a heating element extending up into said column or chamber from its lower end, and means for continuously entraining air into the body o! liquid in the circulatory system during operation of the heating unit and for continuously discharging air from said unit during said operation, substantially as described.

ROBERT N. EGGLESTON. 

